An advertisement for a Nokia phone that runs Microsoft Windows software is displayed in a mobile phone store in New York. / Seth Wenig, AP

by Brett Molina, USATODAY

by Brett Molina, USATODAY

Microsoft says it will close its $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia's handset business this Friday.

In a statement released Monday, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith says the deal, delayed by a month as both companies awaited regulatory clearances in Asia, will be complete on April 25.

"This acquisition will help Microsoft accelerate innovation and market adoption for Windows Phones. In addition, we look forward to introducing the next billion customers to Microsoft services via Nokia mobile phones," says Smith in a statement.

Earlier this month, China gave regulatory approval for the acquisition, announced last fall. Microsoft will acquire Nokia's smartphone and cellular handset business for $7.2 billion. The company already makes the Lumia smartphone line, which runs the Windows mobile operating system.

Windows has emerged as the third most popular operating system in the U.S., leapfrogging BlackBerry but still behind Google Android and Apple's iOS.